GOVERNMENT RELATIONS UPDATES

Catholic Charities Bureau versus Wisconsin Labor & Industry Review Commission

The CCCU continues to advocate on your behalf in the judiciary. We filed an amicus brief in the Catholic Charities Bureau versus Wisconsin Labor & Industry Review Commission case, which is before the Supreme Court. In this case, the Wisconsin Supreme Court decided that Catholic Charities was not religious enough to qualify for a religious exemption from the state unemployment insurance plan. While the court acknowledged the mission to “carry on the redeeming work of our Lord by reflecting gospel values and the moral teaching of the church,” it concluded that “services provided by a religiously run orphanage and a secular one do not differ in any meaningful sense.” Because the activities of Catholic Charities could be and are performed by secular organizations and because Catholic Charities did not only hire Catholics, they were not religious enough to qualify. Our brief argues that “by deciding whether a religiously motivated activity is sufficiently religious (regardless of the criteria it employed), the court impermissibly strayed beyond its constitutional bounds, infringing Petitioners’ right to determine and exercise their own religious beliefs and practices.” The Supreme Court granted cert and will hear oral arguments later this year.

Reconciliation Process in the U.S. Congress

The House and Senate are seeking significant cuts to federal funding in the ongoing reconciliation process, including reductions to education spending. The bill may include some cost-saving efforts such as student loan reform and institutional accountability, whether through risk-sharing or a gainful-employment-for-all approach. Both policy approaches take a narrow, economic view of higher education, which harms institutions that focus on the holistic development of individuals across a variety of disciplines. CCCU students serve significantly more in fields that prioritize societal benefits rather than earnings, such as counseling, mental health, family service, and community service. Nearly 13% of CCCU graduates serve in these fields, compared to 4.2% of graduates from all four-year institutions. Including ministry positions would make the CCCU numbers even higher. The CCCU is working diligently to meet with members of Congress to protect institutions that graduate students who choose to serve because of their faith, while also finding common ground on spending reforms that produce prudent financial stewardship.

Important Tax Bills Introduced in Congress 

The CCCU supports two new tax bills recently introduced. The first would amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to make the Section 127 tax exclusion for certain employer payments of student loans under educational assistance programs permanent. Section 127 is a provision of the tax code that allows employers to provide up to $5,250 of tax-free educational assistance to employees, covering the costs of tuition, fees, books, and supplies. In the CARES Act, this tax provision was temporarily expanded to include the repayment of student loans, but that provision is set to expire at the end of 2025. This amendment would make that expansion permanent and is just one piece of larger efforts the CCCU supports to increase and expand the Section 127 tax exclusion. The second bill is the Charitable Act, which incentivizes and rewards more Americans to give to charitable organizations. Currently, the charitable deduction is only available to those who itemize, comprising only 10% of taxpayers. This bill seeks to restore and expand the charitable deduction to include non-itemizing taxpayers, a policy that proved successful during its implementation in 2020 and 2021. The legislation would also make gifts to donor-advised funds eligible for the universal charitable deduction, further incentivizing charitable giving.

Religious Freedom Restoration Act Waivers

In February, the CCCU, alongside a group of several religious organizations, scholars, and leaders, signed a letter sent to the Democratic and Republican leaders of the House and Senate requesting protection of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 (RFRA). This bill had overwhelming bipartisan support when it was passed and is one of the most important statutes for religious freedom in the nation’s history. Since its passage, several bills have contained language that would waive RFRA’s application to certain federal laws. None of these waivers have been signed into law, but there have been waivers sponsored by members on both sides of the political aisle. The CCCU continues to advocate in Congress to protect this long-standing statute and ensure its religious freedom protections are not eroded by any waiver.

CCCU MEMBERSHIP UPDATES

At the January board meeting, the CCCU Board of Directors approved one new member, who joins the CCCU’s expansive network of more than 170 Christian colleges and universities around the globe: University of Eastern Africa, Baraton (Baraton, Kenya).

The Board also approved a change in membership status. Warner Pacific University (Portland, Oregon), formerly a collaborative partner, is now a governing member of the CCCU.

2025 CCCU Award Recipients

CYDNEY BRIDGES | Young Alumni Award

The Young Alumni Award recognizes an individual who has graduated from a CCCU member institution within the past decade and whose work demonstrates uncommon leadership or success that reflects the values of Christian higher education. Cydney Bridges, a 2023 graduate of Huntington University, serves as a nurse providing critical care for children with severe lung illnesses. She was also named the second runner-up and Miss Congeniality in the Miss America 2024 pageant. Cydney has utilized her platform to advocate for youth mentorship and empowerment.

SARAH FLANAGAN | Champion of Higher Education Award

The Champion of Higher Education Award is presented to individuals who have demonstrated strategic vision and unparalleled dedication to the field of higher education. This year, Sarah Flanagan is retiring from her role as vice president for government relations and policy development at the National Association of Independent Colleges & Universities (NAICU). During her tenure, Sarah has been instrumental in successful policy efforts, including securing bipartisan political and funding support for federal student aid programs, creating new tax incentives for families to save and pay for college, and helping to ensure an appropriate balance between federal support for students and oversight of higher education institutions.

SHIRLEY V. HOOGSTRA | Mark O. Hatfield Award

The Mark O. Hatfield Leadership Award is presented to individuals who have demonstrated uncommon leadership that reflects the values of Christian higher education. Shirley V. Hoogstra served as the seventh president of the CCCU from 2014-2024. During her decade of leadership, she oversaw the organization’s increased advocacy efforts, expanded membership, improved organizational finances, and strengthened professional development programs to fortify Christian higher education for the future.